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Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Galatians 4:1-3

Galatians 4:1-3. The apostle, having established the consolatory doctrine that believers, in every age and country of the world, are heirs of the promises made to Abraham and to his seed, goes on in this chapter to answer an inquiry which he knew would naturally occur to his readers, but which, according to his manner, he does not formally state; namely, Since all believers, from the beginning, were heirs of the promises, as well as of the things promised, why were they not put in possession... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:1-7

The law’s purpose illustrated (3:23-4:7)Jews under the law were like children under the control of a guardian, but this was only in anticipation of the coming of Christ. When he came, those who trusted in him were forgiven the sins they had committed against the law and were put right with God. Instead of being like children under a guardian, they now enjoyed the freedom of full-grown mature sons of God (23-26). Since the coming of Christ, all believers are united in him and are God’s children,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Galatians 4:1

as long = for (Greek. epi . App-104 .) such time. child. Greek. nepios . App-108 . nothing . Greek. oudeis . servant . Greek. doulos . App-190 . lord = owner. Greek. kurios . App-98 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Galatians 4:1

GAL. 4The argument of this whole chapter is a continuation of Paul's teaching on the abolition of the Law of Moses and the replacement of the entire system by Christianity. First, he compared the Law to the conditions governing a person not yet come of age, as something sure to be replaced by another arrangement later on (Galatians 4:1-7). Secondly, he pointed out the restrictive and onerous nature of the Law itself, comparing it to slavery or bondage (Galatians 4:8-11). Next, he reminded them... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Galatians 4:1

Galatians 4:1. Now I say, that the heir, &c.— The Apostle goes on farther to prove, that the law was not against the promise, in that the child is not disinherited by being under tutors: But his chief design is, to shew that, though both Jews and Gentiles were intended to be the children of God, and heirs of the promise by faith in Christ,yet they both of them were left in bondage, till Christ, in due time, came to redeem them both; and therefore it was folly in the Galatians, being... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:1

1-7. The fact of God's sending His Son to redeem us who were under the law ( :-), and sending the Spirit of His Son into our hearts ( :-), confirms the conclusion ( :-) that we are "heirs according to the promise." the heir— ( :-). It is not, as in earthly inheritances, the death of the father, but our Father's sovereign will simply that makes us heirs. child—Greek, "one under age." differeth nothing, c.—that is, has no more freedom than a slave (so the Greek for "servant" means). He is not at... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:1-3

Already Paul had compared the Law to a prison warden (Galatians 3:22) and a baby sitter (Galatians 3:24). Now he compared it to a trustee appointed to care for a young child and his property, a guardian. The purpose of all three comparisons was to clarify the difference between the previous historical period of spiritual immaturity and the present period of spiritual freedom.Paul contrasted the spiritual immaturity of those living under the Mosaic Law with the spiritual maturity of those living... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:1-11

1. The domestic illustration 4:1-11Continuing his case for faith over the Mosaic Law, Paul cited an illustration from family life. He did this to clarify the condition of believers as contrasted with nomists and to warn his readers to abandon nomism. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:1-31

The Bondage of the Law. Freedom in Christ1-7. Under the Law we were in bondage; under the Gospel we have received the freedom of sons.Paraphrase. ’(1) The heir before he comes of age can no more enter upon his inheritance than a servant in the family can possess himself of it, (2) but must continue, until the set time, in a subordinate position, and under the authority and training of others. (3) So, when we were under the elementary Law system, we were in a position like that of the heir in... read more

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